A native of Charleston, S.C., Elizabeth Stevens moved to Mobile more than 30 years ago to work for then-Mobile Mayor Mike Dow on revitalizing the city. For the last 18 years, Stevens has worked with the Downtown Mobile Alliance as its president and CEO.

Founded in 2006, the Alliance is a membership organization that works toward the redevelopment of downtown Mobile. The Alliance has a number of initiatives, including promoting housing downtown, public art, improvements to public spaces and Business Improvement District (BID) services, which keep Mobile’s downtown streets clean.

Here, Stevens discusses how changes in Mobile’s population and industry impact downtown and the progress she’s seen over the years.

Questions and answers have been condensed and edited for clarity.

How does the industrial growth in Mobile impact downtown Mobile?